marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Dear All,
I am a Polish graduate, who came here (the U.S.) ~2 years (yes, this is how long it takes to learn the ropes, the new culture etc.).
Could you help me out and guide me what to do within the next 5 months to prepare for the exam. What are the books I should definietly read and the Qs sources I shoould practice with etc.?
I have taken Kaplan self-study course in 2006 Jan - but did not do an excellent job, and unfortunately have not taken the egzam after that .
My exzam Feb, March, April 2007.
I work full time so can not spend a lot of time (10 hrs a day etc),
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter,
Best regards,
Marcell
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| Ron
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 13
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Hey marcel,
Your situation looks the same which i was in,ok i also bought kaplan study material what a waste of money,it makes no concepts ,so finally i bought kaplan lecture notes and video from ebay really helped me get concepts straight, i am waiting for my result,i would strongly suggest u buy kaplan lecture notes u can get them for $100,Kurva Much...what a waste of $560 for home study material.
Ron
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| surprisedgirl1
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 63
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I agree.....get the DVDs from Kaplan from ebay, because since you've been out of touch with thigns for a while, you'll need to hear things being taught. Also, in MY opinion, instead of doing Kaplan Pathology, do Goljan pathology. You can download the Goljan audio from tehse forums as well as his notes which he follows relatively well. I would also pick u pa first aid and see what you think of it. Most US med students LOVE that book, but even if you don't use it a lot it's a good guide!
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Thanks to both of you for your prompt response,
Ron: Your Polish is very impressive -Dzien Dobry- is the next one for you: this one is actually a nice one
Let's get to the business...
I got the Kaplan Lecture notes...
What do you gues think about FA - I heard that some people are using this as a main study book and then they're adding the remianinfg "flavors": Anatomy - high yelds, Patho - Goljan, Pharma - Autonomic NS from Lippincot (I hope I spelled that right).
Have I missed some ingredients?
What are the other testy sources? Do you do all the Kaplan lecture notes (except for patho by Goljan) ?
What are the best Q banks?
Thank you,
Marcell
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| surprisedgirl1
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 63
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I think the top two qbanks are Kaplan Q Bank and USMLE World. It depends how much time you have and if you'd want to do both. A lot of pepole only do Kaplan (which is my first preference) and some do both and some do only UW. Some peole like to study material and try questions as they go along. You can use one qbank for that. And then you could use another qbank as a randomized one. It's up to you. I think annotating FA is ag reat idea. But it can get frustrating....it's easier to d oit as you go through your classes, which is what I am doing.
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Dear All,
Thank you for input, suprisedgirl1 - you are so kind. Your info is very valuable to me.
Could you tell me what the extra books, in addition to Kaplan LN, for different subjects are (sometimes I see people saying do this from here etc.)?
Is it the recommended order: Kaplan lecture notes -->an extra book (if needed)--> FA--> Q
Thanks,
Marcell.
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| surprisedgirl1
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 63
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Yes I would say while you are reading the Kaplan Lecture Notes, fill in the blanks in first aid. This way, when you're cloewr to the exam, you will have a book with lots of info in it in ONE place. Don't overdo it though, try to pick out things that will CLARIFY what's already in FA. You don't want to go into overkill. I know that some people think the anatomy sections in Kaplan are overkill. You can decide that for yousrelf; an alternative would be Highyield Gross Anatomy and HY Neuroanatomy. Also, like I said, Goljan's pathology should replace Kaplan (in my opinion that is). I think after you do your first reading you should start doing questios every day. I am not sure how much time you are alotting to the exam--it all depends on that.
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Again , good stuff...
Do you know where I can get the Goljan notes, audio and slides?
I have tried to the guy on the forum who had gotten this from others, but no response
Thank you,
Marcin.
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| surprisedgirl1
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 63
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http://www.real-doctors.com/forums/index.php?topi...
try there
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| GoodGirl
Forum Guru
Topics: 102
Posts: 1,395
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Hello Marcel,
due to lack of time I will forward you to one post, with witch I fully agree . In case you are not able to open it , I'll copy it also below. I found many helpful advices in the text.... I think to many books are harmful , espetialy you are not a '' full day student''. FA is mainly used as a review tool , not as a study book.
http://www.usmleforum.com/forum/message.php?id=12...
The biggest mistakes I made during my long sojourn
#128146
shigella - 10/13/06 21:35
1- Too much material.( Memorise Kaplan along with the DVDs....and the things u dont undertsand in the kaplan, google them and know them there n then, or get a good refernce book and make ur concepts so clear that the material flows inside our brain easily AND this ensures long term memory. It does not matter if you only 1 chapter is taking 6 hrs...as long as u have memorised it cold and UNDERSTOOD the concept behind,..ur all set!!)
2- Lack of proper guidance
3- Not having a study partner
4- Wasting time overcoming the fear factor( I can MURDER those who spread the fear. You wont believe it but this is such a sick idea, frightening people..when actually this exam is NOT a big deal...If you know everything good , why should you fear it?????? You do have a CHOICE of getting SO MANY questions wrong on the exam and STILL score in the 90ies...SO DO NOT b afraid when u c ppl posting tough questions on the exam cz you CAN answer them wrong and get a good score still. This is WHY people get a 230 plus out of 350 (which is a GREAT score) That is XACTLY 70 marks deducted for the wrong questions....DO U UNDERSTAND THAT? You can EASILY NOT freak out if you dont know a couple of answers ...OK???..
5- ONLY READING and not memorising( I insist , you memorise everything in the first READ ( A misnomer )for this UTTERLY insane guidance of only READING wasted so much of my precious time and energy, I can gladly again shoot those people who suggested that.
6- Not knowing everything in Kaplan COLD, INSIDE OUT. We are doctors for goodness sake, we have to know things COLD.
7-Not realising that every moment is valuable. (Utilise time intelligently, take out time to have fun, go out, exercise, eat well...AND STUDY LIKE U HAVE NEVER studied before. I mean it,. Only u are your biggest enemy. )
8- I read half of FA, half of MedEssentials, half of this, half of that..5 pages of another one AND ENDED up knowing nothing good, just fleeting memories... Did read whole kaplan though.
9- Studying KAPLAN for Micro....urggggg.....y did I do that??? If you are a micro hater DO NOT TOUCH that book even if ppl insist that u have to read it despite the loathing. Simply do not touch that book IF you r my type. It is boring, time consuming and gives u little concept...THis exam is about concepts people....concepts...yes, even in micro. Plz do MMRS(micro made ridiculously simple) That book will make you LOVE micro. You will enjoy every single word of that book. GREAT concepts, GREAT memory aids and a wonderful experience. I wonder why people who guide on forums or in person never tell u the DETAILS of everything u want to know...or maybe I had no guidance. Ppl just RECOMMENDED a book , never telling WHY recommended, cz if they do , we will know IF that book is our TYPE or not....AND rememebr, EVERY one has ,her own opinion, own way of studying so u have to ask the recommender WHY should u read that book....WHY.......
10- Kaplan pathology is AN AWESOME book, contrary to popular belief that it isnt. IF and ONLY IF....u read the chapter, try to memorise it and THEN ONLY THEN listen to goljan lectures and add into that book....you will have a gold mine by the end u r thru with goljan lectures....SERIOUSLY...IF goljan lectures r added in that book...That book becomes a diamond...better than Goljan rapid review book. It has EVERYTHING u need to know in single line sentences...You will not believe it if I tell u about my proposed first read ....I read Kaplan , BRS(1 by 4th) , ROBBINS pathology 1100 questions book, webpath online, Big robbins for concepts, AND a lot of other stuff I dont rememebr AND by the end of that month I did not know ANYTHING>>>ANYTHING at all. THat ws cz I did not memorise it.... If you put so much effort PLEASE memorise kaplan first and then jump to something else...In 2nd read, Goljan made things easier...You memorise a chap from kaplan, listen to goljan and wehn goljan talks about biochem...write it there, if he talks about micro, write it in micro, if he talks about physio, write it in physio and ALL of ur BASIC CORE concepts will b covered....
Hope I did not take too much of your time. But I believe a guide is necessary for ppl who r just starting up . Reason for writing this stems from my exasperation of not knowing things at a time when I should have known them.
Some ppl do great even without guidance..these r those , who were great back in medical school or they r driven by some other passion. But if you ver an average student back home with a kick- start sort of personality, Plz look for proper guidance and be intelligent enough to absorb ONLY that which not only looks like the right schedule BUT IS THE right schedule...
Thanks....If u have any questions I can help u with regarding material, plz feel free to ask. I will try to get back in a day...
___________________
Prioritize & simplify.
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Surprisedgirl1,
I hate to say it ,but it either does not work or I am missing sth
I used the link you gave, chose the goljan links, hit it and got the web called megaupload and got stuck;I do not see ANY download future (however the title is listed etc.) Could you take a quick pick and tell me what I am missing?
Thanks,
M
Thank you,
Marcell
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
|
Thank you, Goodgirl.
By any chance, do you how I can get the Goljan lectures, audio and ppt?
Surprisegirl1 gave me a link but I can not download that ( why thoughts) ?
Marcell
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Dear all,
Could anyone email me the Goljan set?
My email:marcindada@sbcglobal.net
Thank you,
Marcell
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Special thanks to Surprisedgirl1, Goodgirl and Ron.
I guess this pretty much what you can get out this formum. Also, 191 viewers, but only 4 helpful responses ???)
Good luck,
Marcell
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| malkut
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 93
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go to http://www.usmleforum.com/forum/message.php?id=12...
hope this helps
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Malkut,
I got to the megaload web using your link:; how do you go from there, I have never used that ...
Thank you so much for your attention to this matter,
Marcell
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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hi malkut,
I used your link and got the megaupload web - how do yuo from there ? I have never used this web before...
Thank you,
Marcell
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| malkut
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 93
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sorry, marcell!can't download that either; don't know what's happening.
do more search through the pages of that forum, u will find other interesting links
very sorry it wasn't helpful
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| surprisedgirl1
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 63
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marcel, I have exams in a few days (for class, notusmle). PM me in a few days and I'll try my best to getyou the material!
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Understood
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| sitara101
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 11
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HI,
I was reading pople say that kaplan home study is waste of time, get lecture notes instead, but a kaplan representative told me the content is the same in both books? is this true? also, how good is this PASS program, i heard it mention on e-bay only, no one in htese forums said anything bout it. is it worth purchasing?
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| surprisedgirl1
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 63
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I wouldn't overkill on the material. I personally would recommend the Kaplan DVDs to the PASS Dvds, I have seen a bit of the PASS and turned it off b/c I personally did not like it. I'm nots ure about the content, but if a Kap Representative tld you that, I'm sure they're not lying .
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| marcel78
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 36
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Guys,
An easy q: What do u mean by WU questions?
Thank you,
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| malkut
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 93
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i think u meant "UW"
it means usmleworld. go to www.usmleworld.com
it's an awesome question bank
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| sitara101
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 11
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Hi,
I have anohter question. HOw good is the gold standard prep for the usmle step 1? or is the gold standard prep by kaplan? i am not sure, i saw it being sold on ebay, and was wondering.
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